Skip to main content
Review | Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering | Volume 5 - Issue 1 - 2025 | 15-29 |
© 2025 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Current Challenges and Future Prospects of Green Construction in Malaysia

Author(s): Wil Son Sam 1 , Audrey Primus 1 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5314-5674 , Daniela Sentiveanu 2 , Surya Dewi Puspitasari 3 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1810-1622 , Md Abu Hanifa Jannat 4 ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3729-9117 , Jayapadma Mudalige Miyuru Uthpala Jayapadma 5 , 6 , ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6126-9968 , Yuangga Rizky Illahi 5 , 6 , , Muhamad Diki Permana 7 , 8 , ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5871-5004 , Amit Kumar Maharjan 9 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2568-6366 , Rabin Maharjan 10 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2258-2086 , Jovale Vincent Tongco 11 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7047-1703
Author(s) information:
1 Facuty of Civil and Construction Engineering, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, Miri 98009, Malaysia
2 Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Strada Constantin Daicoviciu 15, Cluj-Napoca 400020, Romania
3 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
4 Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
5 Interdisciplinary Centre for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Yamanashi, Japan
6 Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Yamanashi, Japan
7 Center for Crystal Science and Technology, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Yamanashi, Japan
8 Special Educational Program for Green Energy Conversion Science and Technology, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Science, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Yamanashi, Japan
9 Organization for Public Health and Environment Management, Lalitpur Metropolitan City – 10, Nepal
10 Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
11 Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA

Corresponding author

Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering

Volume 5 - Issue 1 - 2025

 About the journal
Submit your article

Malaysia’s rapid urbanization, driven by a growing population and increasing industrial and infrastructural demands, significantly impacted the environment. The construction sector, a key contributor to economic growth, simultaneously became a major source of environmental degradation due to high resource consumption and waste generation. In response to these challenges, the integration of green materials and sustainable technologies emerged as a viable solution to minimize the negative environmental footprint of construction activities. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of green materials in Malaysia, including bamboo, organic waste, recycled concrete aggregate, and plastic waste, highlighting their benefits and limitations. Additionally, sustainable construction technologies such as solar energy, hydropower, biogas systems, green roofing, and rainwater harvesting are examined for their potential role in enhancing environmental sustainability. The study further evaluates existing government policies and regulations governing green construction in Malaysia, identifying key challenges such as ineffective waste management, regulatory enforcement gaps, and illegal dumping. Comparisons with international best practices, including those from Japan and Hong Kong, offer insights into potential improvements for Malaysia’s regulatory framework and implementation strategies. The paper also discusses the prospects of green materials and sustainable construction technologies, outlining potential solutions to enhance their adoption. By addressing both the challenges and opportunities within the sector, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable construction practices in Malaysia, ultimately fostering a eco-friendlier and more resilient built environment.

Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

Dehdasht, G.; Ferwati, M. S.; Abidin, N. Z.; Oyedeji, M. O. (2021). Trends of construction industry in Malaysia and its emerging challenges. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 27, 161–178. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfmpc-08-2020-0054.

Snieska, V.; Simkunaite, I. (2009). Socio-Economic Impact of Infrastructure Investments. Engineering Economics, 63(3).

Khan, R. A.; Liew, M. S.; Ghazali, Z. B. (2014). Malaysian construction sector and Malaysia vision 2020: Developed nation status. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 109, 507–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.498.

Chuan, G. K. (1982). Environmental impact of economic development in peninsular malaysia: A review. Applied Geography, 2(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/0143-6228(82)90014-5.

Asnor, A.S.; Al-Mohammad, M.S.; Wan Ahmad, S.; Almutairi, S.; Rahman, R.A. (2022). Challenges for Implementing Environmental Management Plans in Construction Projects: The Case of Malaysia. Sustainability, 14, 6231. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106231.

Ikau, R.; Joseph, C.; Tawie, R. (2016). Factors influencing waste generation in the construction industry in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 234, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.213.

Begum, R. A.; Siwar, C.; Pereira, J. J.; Jaafar, A. H. (2009). Attitude and behavioral factors in waste management in the construction industry of Malaysia. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 53(6), 321–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.01.005.

Nagapan, S.; Rahman, I. A.; Asmi, A.; Adnan, N. F. (2013). Study of site’s construction waste in Batu Pahat, Johor. Procedia Engineering, 53, 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2013.02.015.

Chong, J. H.; Liu, M. S.; Hernandes, E.; Albescu, M. (2023). Implementation of green materials in construction management system in Malaysia. Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering, 3(1), 51–69. https://doi.org/10.53623/csue.v3i1.212.

Umar, U. A.; Shafiq, N.; Malakahmad, A.; Nuruddin, M. F.; Khamidi, M. F. (2016). A review on adoption of novel techniques in construction waste management and policy. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 19(4), 1361–1373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-016-0534-8.

Rahim, M. H. I. A.; Kasim, N.; Mohamed, I.; Zainal, R.; Sarpin, N.; Saikah, M. (2017). Construction waste generation in Malaysia construction industry: illegal dumping activities. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 271, 012040. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/271/1/012040.

Nagapan, S.; Rahman, I. A.; Asmi, A. (2012, April). Construction waste management: Malaysian perspective. International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering for Sustainability, Thistle Hotel, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, 229–309.

Mahayuddin, S. A.; Pereira, J. J.; Badaruzzaman, W. H. W.; Mokhtar, M. B. (2008). Construction waste management in a developing country: case study of Ipoh, Malaysia. Waste Management and the Environment IV. https://doi.org/10.2495/wm080491.

Wahi, N.; Joseph, C.; Tawie, R.; Ikau, R. (2016). Critical review on construction waste control practices: Legislative and waste management perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 224, 276–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.460.

Sharma, N. (2020). Sustainable building material for green building construction, conservation and refurbishing. MATTER: International Journal of Science and Technology, 29, 5343–5350.

Kanniyapan, G.; Nesan, L. J.; Mohammad, I. S.; Keat, T. S.; Ponniah, V. (2019). Selection criteria of building material for optimising maintainability. Construction and Building Materials, 221, 651–660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.06.108.

Aghdam, K. A.; Rad, A. F.; Shakeri, H.; Sardroud, and J. M. (2018). Approaching green buildings using eco-efficient construction materials: A review of the state-of-the-art. Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management, 8, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.6106/JCEPM.2018.8.3.001.

Tambichik, M. A.; Mohamad, N.; Samad, A. A. A.; Bosro, M. Z. M.; Iman, M. A. (2018). Utilization of construction and agricultural waste in Malaysia for development of Green Concrete: A Review. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 140, 012134. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/140/1/012134.

Muthusamy, K.; Zamri, N.; Zubir, M.A.; Kusbiantoro, A.; Ahmad, S.W. (2015). Effect of mixing ingredient on compressive strength of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete containing palm oil fuel ash. Procedia Engineering, 125, 804–810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.142.

Dawood, E.; Ramli, M. (2009, August). Study the effects of using palm fiber on the properties of high strength flowable mortar.

Ismail, S.; Ramli, M. (2013). Engineering properties of treated recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) for structural applications. Construction and Building Materials, 44, 464–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.03.014.

Safiuddin, Md.; Alengaram, U.J.; Rahman, Md. M.; Salam, Md. A.; Jumaat, Mohd. Z. (2013). Use of recycled concrete aggregate in concrete: A review. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 19(6), 796–810. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2013.799093.

Yusof, N.M.; Hua, L.S.; Tahir, P.M.; James, R.M.S.; Al-Edrus, S.S.O.; Dahali, R.; Roseley, A.S.M.; Fatriasari, W.; Kristak, L.; Lubis, M.A.R.; et al. (2023). Effects of Boric Acid Pretreatment on the Properties of Four Selected Malaysian Bamboo Strips. Forests, 14, 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020196.

He, H.; Zheng, X.; Wang, Y.; Wang, W.; Li, M.; Wang, S.; Wang, J.; Wang, C.; Zhan, H. (2022). Effects of Climate Change and Environmental Factors on Bamboo (Ferrocalamus strictus), a PSESP Unique to China. Forests, 13, 2108. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122108.

Goh, Y.; Yap, S. P.; Tong, T. Y. (2020). Bamboo: The emerging renewable material for sustainable construction. Encyclopedia of Renewable and Sustainable Materials, 365–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-803581-8.10748-9.

Lau, Y. Y.; Talukdar, G.; Hasti Widyasamratri, Wang, J.; El-shaammari, M. (2023). Utilization of Green Materials and Technology for Sustainable Construction in Malaysia. Tropical Environment Biology and Technology, 1(1), 47–66. https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v1i1.238.

Ali, B.; Sopian, K.; Al Ghoul, M.; Othman, M. Y.; Zaharim, A.; Razali, A. M. (2009). Economics of domestic solar hot water heating systems in Malaysia. European Journal of Scientific Research, 26(1), 20–28.

Bashir, M.J.K.; Jing, O.L.; Sethupathi, S.; Aun, N.C. (2015). Evaluation of energy cost saving and pollutants emission reduction for solar water heater development in Malaysia. Springer: Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-505-1_25.

Vunnam, S.; VanithaSri, M.; Alla, R. (2023). An outline of solar photovoltaic systems impact on environment. Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, 12(5), 2635–2642. https://doi.org/10.11591/eei.v12i5.5584.

Breeze, P. (2016). An Introduction to solar power. In Solar Power Generation (pp. 1–8). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804004-1.00001-4.

Mekhilef, S.; Safari, A.; Mustaffa, W. E. S.; Saidur, R.; Omar, R.; Younis, M. A. A. (2012). Solar energy in Malaysia: Current state and prospects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(1), 386–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.08.003.

Ab Kadir, M. Z. A.; Rafeeu, Y.; Adam, N. M. (2010). Prospective scenarios for the full solar energy development in Malaysia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14(9), 3023–3031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.07.062.

Chua, S. C.; Oh, T. H. (2012). Solar energy outlook in Malaysia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(1), 564–574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.08.022.

Razali, A. H.; Abdullah, M. P.; Hassan, M. Y.; Hussin, F. (2019). Comparison of new and previous Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme in Malaysia. ELEKTRIKA- Journal of Electrical Engineering, 18(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.11113/elektrika.v18n1.141.

Hayat, M. B.; Ali, D.; Monyake, K. C.; Alagha, L.; Ahmed, N. (2018). Solar energy-A look into power generation, challenges, and a solar-powered future. International Journal of Energy Research, 43(3), 1049–1067. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4252.

Gupta, V.; Sharma, M.; Pachauri, R. K.; Dinesh Babu, K. N. (2019). Comprehensive review on effect of dust on solar photovoltaic system and mitigation techniques. Solar Energy, 191, 596–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.08.079.

Hossain, M.; Huda, A. S. N.; Mekhilef, S.; Seyedmahmoudian, M.; Horan, B.; Stojcevski, A.; Ahmed, M. (2018). A state-of-the-art review of hydropower in Malaysia as renewable energy: Current status and future prospects. Energy Strategy Reviews, 22, 426–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2018.11.001.

Yah, N. F.; Oumer, A. N.; Idris, M. S. (2017). Small scale hydro-power as a source of renewable energy in Malaysia: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 72, 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.068.

Ahsan, R.; & Bin Haji Ahmad, M. H. (2016). Development, displacement and resettlement a challenge for social sustainability: A study on mega development project (Bakun Dam) in Sarawak. International Journal of Advances in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.15242/ijaaee.er0116020.

Keong, C. Y. (2005). Dam-Induced Development and Environmental and Social Sustainability: The Bakun Industrialization Strategy Revisited. Journal of Economic Issues, 39(1), 123–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2005.11506783.

Chien Bong, C. P.; Ho, W. S.; Hashim, H.; Lim, J. S.; Ho, C. S.; Peng Tan, W. S.; Lee, C. T. (2017). Review on the renewable energy and solid waste management policies towards biogas development in Malaysia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 70, 988–998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.12.004.

Hosseini, S. E.; Wahid, M. A. (2013). Feasibility study of biogas production and utilization as a source of renewable energy in Malaysia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 19, 454–462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.008.

Aziz, N. I. H. A.; Hanafiah, M. M.; Gheewala, S. H. (2019). A review on life cycle assessment of biogas production: Challenges and future perspectives in Malaysia. Biomass and Bioenergy, 122, 361–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.01.047.

Siew, Chin; Sakundarini. (2019). Designing a guideline for green roof system in Malaysia. Journal CleanWAS, 3(2), 05-10. https://doi.org/10.26480/jcleanwas.02.2019.05.10.

Ismail, Z.; Aziz, H. A.; Nasir, N. M.; Mohd, T. (2012). Obstacles to adopt green roof in Malaysia. 357–361. https://doi.org/10.1109/CHUSER.2012.6504339.

Hafizi Md Lani, N.; Yusop, Z.; Syafiuddin, A. (2018). A review of rainwater harvesting in Malaysia: Prospects and challenges. Water, 10(4), 506. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10040506.

Lee, K. E.; Mokhtar, M.; Mohd Hanafiah, M.; Abdul Halim, A.; Badusah, J. (2016). Rainwater harvesting as an alternative water resource in Malaysia: potential, policies and development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 126, 218–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.060.

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 07 March 2025
ACCEPTED: 06 May 2025
PUBLISHED: 7 May 2025
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 60 days

Cite this article
Sam, W. S. ., Primus, A. ., Sentiveanu , D. ., Puspitasari, S. D. ., Jannat, M. A. H. ., Jayapadma, J. M. M. U. ., Illahi, Y. R., Permana, M. D. ., Maharjan, A. K. ., Maharjan, R. ., & Tongco, J. V. . (2025). Current Challenges and Future Prospects of Green Construction in Malaysia. Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering, 5(1), 15–29. Retrieved from https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/csue/article/view/621
Keywords
Construction Policies Management Green Sustainable Challenges Malaysia
Accessed
122
Citations
0
Share this article